Harp action



V. HULL HARP ACTION Filed Feb. 4,` 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 gmmm Vade Hull v. HULL HARP ACTION Sept. 9, 1930.

Filed Feb. 4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 3mm@ 17a-zal@ Hu ZZ www,

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V. HULL HARP ACTION Sept. 9, 1930.

Filed Feb. 4, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 wxm wwf Lio Patented Sept. 9, 1930 VADE HULL, 0F GREAT FALLS, MONTANA HARP ACTION Application 'ied Febiuary 4, 1929.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in harps, and particularly to the pedal actions therefor.

The ordinary harp is equipped with seven or more pedals, on the base, which are connected, by means of rods to rocking elements, and these rocking elements areconnected with rotary members which stretch and release the strings, whereby to produce the proper sharps and flats, for the different keysin which the harp may be played. To raise or lower the pitch of the strings, to produce the desired and required sharps or Hats of the key in which the player is to play, theplayer must quickly depress certain of the pedals, in succession, to actuate the proper rotary members to raise or lower the proper strings. This requires considerable skill, on the part of the player.

The principal object of the present invention is to,r provide a harp action wherein a single pedal serves to set certain mechanism inproper position to actuate the required rodswhi ch will be pulled, when another pedal is operated, to operate the rotary members associated with said rods, to produce the desired sharps or Hats.

Another object is to provide a mechanism of this character wherein a single pedal serves to set the harpv action to produce the sharps and flats ot a certain key, and a second pedal fixes such mechanism so that the said sharps or l'lats are fixed, and can only be released, and the normal pitches of the strips restored by, operation of the first pedal.

Another object is to provide a pedal mechanism for a harp whichis adapted to be applied to Athe ordinary harp without radical changes in the harp action other than the removal of the regular pedals of the instrument, and the substitution of the mechanism of the present deviceLsuch mechanism being adaptable to single or double action harps.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with, the accompanying drawings. Y

Iny the drawings:

`Figure 1 is a sideelevation ofthe operating mechanism of theihvention, portions of the Serial No. 337,396.

pitch changing rods being shown `associated therewith.

Figure 2' is a top plan view ot the mechanism, certain parts being shown in horizontal section.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the lin-e ot Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizont-al sectional view on the line Mil of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is aV fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 3. f

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional detail View on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view von the line 7 7 of Figure 6.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, 10 represents a base which is properly secured to the base of a harp, beneath the hollow post 11, and disposed in parallel relation above this plate is a second plate 12, while a third plate 13 is disposed above the plate 12. Vertical spacing posts 14 are disposed between and through the plates, for holdingthem inposition.. The upper plate 13 is secured to the lower face of the wooden'plate 15, et the frame of the harp, which supports the lower end of the hollow post 11, said plate 1S being somewhat narrower than the plates 10 and 12. Extending outwardly from the plate 12 is a trame 16 in which is formed a transverse slideway 17, and slidable in said slideway is a block 18, to which more particular reference will be made later herein.

Disposed vertically between the plates 12 and 13, along one edgevthereoit, are the posts 19, for formed in the inner vertical edge face of'each o? sai.' posts are the ratchet teeth 20, while a similar series of posts 21 are disposed between tl pl. ;es, along the other longer e said posts being formed with the ratche.` teeth 22, on their inner vertical edge faces. Disiiosed vertically between the plates 10 and 12, adjacent one longer edge thereof, are the tubular members 23, each having a bevel 4ear 24 on its lower end, and a vertical longitudinal slot 25, extending upwardly from the gear. Disposed in corresponding positions along the other edge of the plates 10 and 12, and arranged therelili) between, are the tubular members 26, each having a. bevel gear 27 on its lower end, vand a vertical slot 27 extending upwardly from the gear. It will be noted that there are tour of the tubular members 23, while there are only three of the tubular members 26, which fact will be explained later herein. Disposed slidably in each of the tubular members 23 is a rod E232-the upper end ot which is provided with a ball and socket joint 28, which connects the rod with the lower end o-one of the pitch changing rods 29, of the harp. rlhe lower end portion ot each of the sai-d rods 23 is provided with a radially extending pin 30, which plays in the slot 25 ot a tubular member. Slidable in each oi' the tubular members 26 is a rod 31, which is provided with a radial pin 32 playing in the slot ofthe tubular member. Mounted on each ot the rods 28 and 31 is a collar 33, and lixed in said collar, and extending radially from one side thereof, is a pin 34, while projecting from the opposite side vof the collar, in a plane slightly below the pin 34, is a spring pressed pin 35, said latter pin being arranged to engage with the before mentioned ratchet teeth et the posts 19 and 21, when the rod is rotated, as will be explained later herein. Mounted on the base 10, longitudinally thereot, and between the rows of tubular members 23 and 26, is a bearing block 36, in which are supported the adjacent ends of a series o'l horizontal shafts 37, said sh'a'ts'having their other ends journaled in the said trame 16. 0n each of .shafts 37, directly beneath the slideway 1'?, are the oppositely directed radial arms 38. On each of vthe said shafts 37 is mounted a bevel gear 89 which meshes with one et the gears of the tubular members 23-26. -VVhen'one of the shafts 37 is rotated by a means to be later described, the tubular member with which it is geared, will be rotated wherebv to place the spring plunger 35 in position rer engagement with the ratchet teeth oli the adjacent post, and disposes the fixedpin 34 in a position ex- Aending diametrically opposite thereto. Extending longitudinally ben/ata the upper plate 13 is a plate 40, which is arranged to move vertically between the plates 12and 13,

and formed in said plate are the openings 41 through Vwhich disposed the vertical guiding rods 42, said rods having their lower ends secured in the base plate l0, and their upper ends secured in the upper plate On each'oi'il the guide rods 42, between the plate 40, and the base plate 10, is a coil spring 43, which serves to urge the'plate into its normal uppermost position, against the lower face o't the plate 13. ViThen one of the shafts 37 is rotated, as above explained, the ixed pin is disposed beneath the said plate 40, whereby when the said plate is lowered it engages the pin and moves the plate downwardly, carrying the rod 23 with it so that the spring pressed pin 35 passes over the ratchet of a post 19 or 21, and is held by one of said teeth, upon release of the plate 40, said plate being returned to its uppermost position by the springs 48. Pivotally mounted on each end of the frame 16 is an arm 44 of a yoke 45, said yoke extending transversely of the mechanism, at the side opposite to the slideway 17, and secured on the intermediate portion of the yoke is the outwardly extending'pedal 46. Pivotally mounted on said trame, directly beneath the pivots of the yoke 45, are the arms 47, each being movably connected with an arm of the yoke, outwardly of the pivot of said arm, by means of af link 48. `Pivotally connected to each end of the plate 40 is av link 48, having its other end pivotally connected with an arm 47, w iereby to cause the downward movement of the plate 40, when the yoke is depressed.

lii'otally mounted on the plate 12, inwardly of the slideway 17, is the inner end of a horizontally movable lever 49, the outer end ot which is provided with a lfoot-piecey 5.0, which is adapted to be engaged by the foot et the player, for swinging the lever over an arcuate scale plate 51, mounted on the'frame 16, said scale plate having letters printed thereon representing the notes to be flatted or sharped, in accordance with the key in which the player is playing. Formed longitudinally in that portion o'lI the lever 49 which rides over the slideway 17, is a slot 52, and disposed vertically through this slot is the upper end portion ot a plunger 53, the lower portion of which slidably disposed through tl e block 18. 0n the upper end of the plunger is a collar 54, vand encircling the plunger, between theilever 49 and the said collar, is a coil spring 55, which normally urges the plunger upwardly.` The lower `endet the plunger, below the lower tace of the block 18, is provided with the oppositely .disposed depending flanges A56 and 57, and pivotallyV nounted on the lower end of the plunger, in position. to engage with the radial arms 38, et' the shafts 37, and with the said flange, 5G and 57, are the pa wls 58 and 59, said pawls being arranged to engage said arm-s, whereby to rock said sha ts, when the vlever 49 is moved on its pivot, and the plu/nger 53 is depressed` lvlounted on the lever 49, bym'eans of the pivot GO, and extending outwardly longitudinally oisaid lever, is a lever 61, the intermediate portion of which is formed Vwith,

an arch G2 which engages with the upper end of the'plunger 58, and is urged upwardly thereby. The outer portion of the lever .61

is provided with a toot-piece 61", land inwardly ot said toot-piece the lever is guided in its vertical movements by the guides 63, carried bythe lever 49. Uponidepressing the lever 61, when the lever is at oneend ot the arcuate scale plate, and moving thelever 49 to position over One the letters of the scale, one of the depending pawls will engage .an armof tl e corresponding shaft'37, and

rock lsaid shaft, whereby to cause the rotation of one of the tubular members 23 or 2b. The rotation of the tubular member causes the rotation of the. associatedy rod and disposes its` fixed pin 34 beneath the plate 40, and its spring actuated ypin35 inpposition to pass over the lratchet teeth of the adjacent post 19er 21, with the result that when the yoke is depressed the plate4() will engage with the pin 34, moving the rod downwardly, so that the sp1ing'pin 35 will engage beneath one ot said teeth, and hold said rod downwardly. The downward movement of the rod pulls the corresponding pitch changing rod Q9, so that the proper strings ot the harpare acted upon to produce the pitch desired.

When the lever 49 is swung in one direction, while the plunger 53 is depressechone of' the pawls, as for instance, the pawl 58, will engage the arms of certain of the shafts 37, and rock said shafts, whereby to cause the rotation of corresponding tubular members.

When the lever 49 is swung in the other direction, while the plunger is depressed,.the other arms of the shafts are engaged and the shafts rocked in the other direction, whereby to rotate theft-ul'iular members back to their original positions. lf, however` the lever 49 is swung over the scale plate, without depressingr the plunger, none of Vthe shafts 37 will be affected. y j

Within the lower portion of the hollow post 11 there is disposed atransverse plate 64, having the openings therein through which are slidably disposed the beforeanentioned pitch changing rods 29, and carried by each of said rods 29 is a collar 66. Disposed on each rod 29, between the plate 64, and the collar 6G, is a coil spring 67, which serves to draw the rod 19 or 21 upwardly, when the associated tubular member is rotated to disengage its pins 34 and 35, respectively, from the plate 40 and the ratchet teeth. It will be noted that the lower member of the ball and socket joint 28 is secured within the upper end ot' a rod 23. while the upper member thereof receives the lower end ot the rod Q9. Threaded on the lower portion of the rod 29, just above the upper member of the joint 28, is a nut, and by rotatingT the upper member ef the joint, which is designated by the numeral Q8', the rod 29 may be drawn down, or slackened, whereby to regulate the tension ot' said rod, to insure proper operation thereof.

Assuming that a player wishes to play in the key of D, he places his foot on the lever 49, moves the same to a position adjacent the F on the scale plate 51, depresses the lever 61, with the same foot, and moves the lever 49 so that one of the pawls engages an arm 3S, of the associated shaft 37, whereby said shaft will 'be rocked to impart rotary motion to the corresponding member 23, which places its pin34 in position to be engaged by the plate 40, and its pin 35 in position overy the uppermost of the teeth of a post 19. The player then operates the pedal lever 49, in a similar manner, with respect to the C, of the scale plate. The player then places his other foot on the foot-piece ot ,the yoke 45, and depresses said yoke, which pulls the members E23y downwardly so that the attached rods 29 will actuate the pitch changing rods of the harp action to raise the pitch ot' all of the C-strings and F-strings, ot the harp, thus enabling the playerto play the harp in the key of D. If the player desires to play in the key of F (one flat), he depresses the lever 61, and swings the lever 49 completely across the scale plate, from one end to the other, which causes one ot' the depending other of the pawls to rock the shaft correspending to the pitch changing rod for the B-strings, with the result all of the B-strings are loweredVone-half tone, which produces the Bb, for the key of F. For other flat keys,

the player operates the lever 49, and the lever 61, so as to release other strings so as to lower them one-halt'r tone, for the corresponding fiatsotthe keys desired.

' It will, of course, be understood, that each time that the player operates the lever 49 to f rotate one jor more of themembers 23, he sets such member in a position whichv permitsv the associated rods tothe drawn down, upon de` pressing the `yokea45.

A lVhat is claimedlis: K

1. In a harp action, the combination with the pitch changing rods thereof, of means tor selectively setting the rods for movement into pitch .changing position, means for actuating said rods, and means for releasablyfixing said rodsin such position. v

2. In a harp action, the combination with the pitch changing rods thereof, of lmeans `for selectively setting the rods into position to be moved' to change the pitch of certain strings of the harp, means for actuating said rods when so set, and means engageable with said rods when so actuated for holding the rods in pitch changing position. s p

3. In a harp action, the combination with the pitch changing rods thereof,r of means for selectively 4setting the rods for movement into pitch changing position including'v a single pedal lever, means for actuating-'said rods :ma

when so set, and means for releasably holding the rods when so moved. Y

4. In a harp action, the combination with the pitch changing rods of the harp, of means for selectively setting said rods for actuation into pitch changing position including a single pedal lever, means for actuating said rods when so set, and means engageable with said rods for releasably locking the rods in the last-named position.

5. In harp action, the combination with the pitch changing rods thereof, of means for selectively setting the rods into position to be drawn down including aV single pedal lever, means for drawing` down said rods, and means for releasably locking therrods in such drawn position including detent means.

6. In a harp action, the combination with the pitch changing rods thereof, of means 'for selectively setting the rods, means for drawing said rods, and means for locking said rods in such drawn position, including a detent.

.7. VIn a harp action, the combination with the pitch changing rods thereof, of means for selectively setting the rods, means for drawing the rods, and means for releasably locking the rods in such drawn position including detents, and means for engaging said detents. Y

8. In a harp act-ion, the combination with the pitch changing rods thereof, of means for selectively setting the rods including a single pedal lever and means associated with the rods for actuation by said lever, means for drawing said rods, and means for releasabl-y holding said rods when so drawn.

9. In a harp action, thecombination Iwith the pitch changing Yrods thereof, of means for selectively setting the rods inY position to be drawn including a single pedal lever, means associated with the rods forv actuationY by said pedal lever including rotarymembers, means for drawing the rods, toothed members, and means on the rotary members for engagementwith the toothed members when so rotated and drawn. A

10. Ina harp action, the combination with Vthe pitch changing rods thereof, of means for selectively sett-ing the rods including 'a single' pedal lever, rotary members associated with the saidv rods, means operableby the pedal lever vfor rotating said members selectively, means for drawing said rods, toothed members, and spring actuated means for engaging said toothed members when so drawn.

11. In a harp action,rthe combination with the pitch changing rods thereof, of means for selectively setting the rods including a single pedal lever, rotary members associated with said rods, rock shafts operatively lengaged with the rotary members and actuatable by said pedal, means for drawing said rods, toothed members, and detents on the rods for engagement with the toothed members when so drawn;

12. In a harp action, the combination wit-h the pitch changing rods thereof, of means for selectively setting said rods including a single pedal lever, rotary members associated with said rods, rock shafts geared to said rotary members for rotating the latter, means on the lever for rocking the shafts, toothed members, and det-ent means onV the rotary members positioned for engagement with said toothed members when said rotary members are rotated, and means for depressing the rods whereby t-o engage their detent means with the toothed members and draw the pitch changing rods. Y

13. vIn a harp action, the combination with the pitch changing rods thereof, of means for selectively setting the rods including a single pedal lever, a secondary pedal lever for drawing the rods, and means for releasably holding the rods when so drawn.

14. In aharp action, the combination with the pitch changing rods thereof, of a primary pedal lever for selectively operating the rods into position to be drawn into pitch chang;

ing position, means for drawing the rods when so set including a secondary lever, and means engageable with the rods forjreleasably holding the latter when so drawn.

15. In a harp action, the combination with the pitch changing rods thereof, of means for selectively setting the'rods in position to be drawn including a. single pedal lever, means associated with the rods for actuation by said pedal lever including rotary members, projections onI the rotary members, and meansoperable against said projections for drawing said rods i In testimonywhereof, I afix my signature.

VADE HULL. 

